The city of Detroit has been the center of controversy lately as it relates to their water department. It seems that Detroit, a city which has declared bankruptcy, decided to shut off water to those residences and businesses that are delinquent on their bills. No sooner had that decision been implemented than the cuckoos came out of the clockworks. In the article titled "More than 1000 from across the nation protest water shutoff" The Detroit Free Press documented the protest and subsequent arrest of 9 of those protesters. Detroit water officials have said customers who are at least 60 days delinquent and owe more than $150 will get a notice stating that they are at risk of being shut off. The city has hired outside contractors to accommodate the increase in shutoffs. Soooo, where is a human right being violated?

On 28 July 2010, through Resolution 64/292, the United Nations General Assembly explicitly recognized the human right to water and sanitation and acknowledged that clean drinking water and sanitation are essential to the realization of all human rights. Nowhere in this declaration does it mention FREE WATER! This is an unfortunate effect of the entitlement mentality in the United States today. What can I get for free? It is not fair to make me pay for this or that.

When water is referred to as a human right, it is countries such as these we are talking about

The United Nations in Resolution 64/292 defines the affordability of water as follows:Affordable. Water, and water facilities and services, must be affordable for all. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) suggests that water costs should not exceed 3 per cent of household income. The Detroit Water and Sewer Board is not shutting off water until accounts are delinquent 60 days and owe more than $150.00. Therefore, people need to suck it up and pay for the Affordable, clean, safe and easily accessible drinking water they have been provided. It is a case of simple Personal Responsibility and learning to prioritize your spending. Or I guess you could sit in your air conditioning, watch your cable TV and demand that your water be free because it is a "Human Right".